in other news, congress provides plenty of materials for stephen colbert. today he returned the favor testifying before a house subcommittee in character as a faux commentator. not the strangest thing that's ever happened on capitol hill, but close. congressional correspondent nancy cordes was there. >> reporter: with stephen colbert at the witness table, this congressional hearing felt more like open mic night. >> i certainly hope that my star pow kerr bump this hearing all the way up to c-span 1. >> reporter: the fake conservative t.v. host was invited to testify about the plight of migrant farm workers after he accepted a challenge on his show. >> i >> i'll do it. >> reporter: to spend a day packing corn or picking beans. >> are there any beans in the shade? when you're picking beans you have to spend all day bending over, it turns out-- and i do not know this-- most soil is at ground level. if we can put a man on the moon, why can't we make the earth waist high? >> does one day in the field make you an expert witness? >> i believe one day of me studying